Dennis Family Graves

These pictures are all from the Zion United Church of Christ, New Providence Pennsylvania.

I am very much indebted to Sandra Shenk and the Southern Lancaster Historical Society for their help in locating my ancestors graves.

Margaret Dennis (May 1, 1805 - Nov. 22, 1889) is my great-great-great grandmother. Her husband was Abraham Dennis. Abraham left his wife and children sometime around 1855 and moved to Elkhorn City, Nebraska near Omaha. There he married Elizabeth Harvey in 1863. Abraham and Margaret had seven children, Adren, Abraham and Adam were the boys, Mary, Elizabeth, Margaret and Christian were the girls. Margaret (the daughter) died as a child and is buried at the New Providence Mennonite Church, New Providence PA. Adren remained single until he died in 1916. Adam served in the Civil War until he lost his left leg. He settled in Harrisburg initially and then moved to Manns Choice, Bedford Co. PA where he died in 1900. Mary married John Feagley of Lancaster. Elizabeth married William McMichael of Lancaster. Christianna married John McCulley of Lancaster.

Abraham (June 21, 1838 - March 6, 1928) and Rosanna (Sept 2, 1839 - May 15, 1907) are my great-great grandparents. Abraham was also known as Abram.

Emma Dennis a daughter of Abram and Rosanna. Her birth and death dates have not been determined. As you can see, the gravestone is in very bad shape.

Adren Dennis (Jan 9, 1833 - Dec 14, 1916) was the oldest of Abraham and Margaret Dennis' children

Thaddeus (Oct 28, 1862 - Feb 15, 1888) was the brother of my great-grandfather, Harry Aldus Dennis. Thaddeus and his wife Aura Wentz (June 30, 1863 - May 6, 1892) had two children, Freda (June 15, 1886 - March 5, 1887) and Joy, who was orphaned when her mother died in 1892. Joy went to live with Auras parents, Joseph and Mary Wentz.

The enscription along the bottom of Freda's stone reads: "Early plucked is early bless"